New Director of Bureau of Business and Economic Research Named

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - With the retirement of Dr. Patrick Barkey, the University of Montana has named Dr. Jeffrey Michael as the new director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

I spoke with Dr. Michael this week about his background and what drew him to Montana.

New UM Bureau of Business and Economic Research Director Named

“This is just a really interesting state economy and a well-established center with really interesting types of work,” began Dr. Michael. “For me, coming to Montana, a smaller state, where your institution is sort of a focal point of the economy that is a resource-based economy that I have a lot of experience with, as well as dealing with issues of housing and tourism and natural resource management, it really just fits my professional background.”

Dr. Michael has many years of experience on both coasts, from California to Maine.

Dr. Michael Has Many Years of Experience from California to Maine

“I was at the University of Pacific in California for 16 years before coming here,” he said. “I ran the business forecasting center there and was director of the Center for Business and Policy Research for the last three years. I actually directed the public policy programs in our School of Law in Sacramento.”

Dr. Michael expanded on his experience in other parts of the country.

“My younger days back there were actually focused on the forest products industry and private landowners and environmental regulation and its impact on the forest products industry and private land management,” he said. “These are very ‘Montana-like’ issues, except in a southern setting, and over the years, I've done a lot with economic development, forecasting, recreation, infrastructure, all sorts of things related to the kind of work that BBER does.”

Dr. Barkey Will Remain at BBER for Several More Months

Dr. Michael said his training and experience in Maine make him comfortable with a mountainous state like Montana.

“My master's degree is from the University of Maine, and I lived in Maine for quite a while and had a research job up there,” he said. “In fact, one of my first jobs, the research position there, was actually doing the state's annual survey of moose hunters, as well as tracking tourism indicators in the state. While different from Montana, it's probably the closest thing in the Eastern U.S. I really gained an appreciation for that recreation economy as well as the private timberlands and how they interact with one another and work together.”

Dr. Patrick Barkey will remain on the staff for several more months and will continue to write and produce the Montana Economic Minute, a popular feature on radio stations throughout the state.